I just want a B&N app that allows me to sync and read on my iPhone/iTouch. I don't care about being able to buy from the app. My nook does that well enough. If I happen to be without my nook, and I see or hear of something interesting, I can make a note of it on my iPhone, and then go buy online or from my nook.

No way will they be replaced with web apps. Not everyone always has access to the net when reading. So web apps will do little to no good. Plus they can be slow and clunky and cumbersome. They are a piss-poor substitute for a true native well written app.

But what about HTML5 cached web books?
Seems to be more efficient and open to me. If only they could have a specific eBook tag in the HTML5 standard, that could be reflowed and tailored to the device and still be reasonably slick.

Several publishing houses have already mentioned they are working on an HTML5 solution.

Personally I think it's my choice "Nothing: They are calling Apple's bluff". With the threat of all the new tablets and android devices. That along with Google's and RIM's willing to have an open Market they would be shooting themselves in the foot if they lock out the content.

No way will they be replaced with web apps. Not everyone always has access to the net when reading. So web apps will do little to no good. Plus they can be slow and clunky and cumbersome. They are a piss-poor substitute for a true native well written app.

Web apps can have local storage for offline reading. Ibis Reader does this, for example. It is a very basic reading app, however.

No way will they be replaced with web apps. Not everyone always has access to the net when reading. So web apps will do little to no good. Plus they can be slow and clunky and cumbersome. They are a piss-poor substitute for a true native well written app.